Tyler Robinson, 22, the man accused in the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University earlier this month, “made contact” with a police officer near the spot where investigators later recovered the alleged murder weapon — wrapped in a towel — in woods at the edge of campus, two law-enforcement sources told reporters.
Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, told Fox News that Robinson returned to the campus to retrieve the rifle.
Fox News was first to report the development.
“We have been able to confirm very recently that he did return to that campus and did make contact with an officer,” Mason told the outlet. “The contents of that interaction we’re not prepared to reveal right now. That’s part of the investigation and part of gathering more information.”
Mason said the encounter occurred on Sept. 10, later that evening, after a sniper’s bullet struck Kirk in the neck while he was speaking at an event hosted by the UVU chapter of Turning Point USA in Orem, Utah.
The officer, positioned on the perimeter after authorities ordered a campus lockdown, confronted Robinson near the spot where investigators later recovered the alleged murder weapon — a Mauser .30-06 rifle wrapped in a towel — a move Mason said appears to have foiled the suspect’s attempt to retrieve the firearm.
Mason added that investigators have been able to trace Robinson’s movements to several local businesses and other locations in and around the area.
“We know he visited a restaurant eatery, or he made a purchase for food, just kind of a normal interaction,” Mason told Fox.
Prosecutors released excerpts of a text-message exchange they say occurred the evening of Sept. 10 between Robinson and his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs. In the messages, Robinson allegedly discussed retrieving a rifle before driving home from Orem — a trip of roughly four hours from his Washington County residence.
While authorities were searching the area, Robinson reportedly texted Twiggs, instructing him to “look under my keyboard,” court documents say.
The roommate reportedly discovered and then photographed a note there that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.” Police say Twiggs has been cooperating with investigators.
In another message, Robinson allegedly wrote he was “stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
“You weren’t the one who did it right????” the roommate texted back.
“I am, I’m sorry,” Robinson allegedly replied. “I thought they caught the person?” Twiggs messaged back.
“No, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing,” Robinson said in another reply, per the court filing. “I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its (sic) quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres (sic) one vehicle lingering.”
Later, Robinson reportedly messaged that he was still waiting for a chance to retrieve his weapon: “There is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it.”
“I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle… I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas (sic) rifle,” he also wrote.
Authorities said Robinson surrendered in his southern Utah hometown about 33 hours after the slaying, after his parents and a family friend persuaded him to turn himself in rather than take his own life, Fox reported.